Page 21: of Marine News Magazine (November 2022)

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Column

Training

All photos: Pat Folan

Recruiting Gen Z in the Marine Industry

By Pat Folan, Tug & Barge Solutions what they do best. And why wouldn’t it be? They live in a world where people “like” each other’s photos, ideas, mov-

Who is Gen Z?

Generation Z, according to the Pew Research Center, ies, etc and those devices they live on allow for this end- are the people born between 1996 and 2012. Gen Z is less commenting, critiquing, and sharing. It’s imperative to have a great personal brand so that others will follow vastly different from previous generations. Some of the is- you. Anything that Gen Z does in life becomes part of the sues that have affected their perspective on life are CO-

VID-19, the Great Recession and school shootings. They journey of the person that they want to become.

And that’s where recruiting starts – the intersection of believe that stability is dif? cult to achieve and that worry your corporate brand and their brand. For Gen Zers, work and anxiety are at the center of their lives. They don’t nec- is big part of that journey, and they are looking at the poten- essarily see a world full of possibilities and success.

tial job with your company based on how well it ? ts in with • They spend 3 hours per day on social media their story. Does the story of working at your company, on • Over half spend 10 hours or more each day on your vessels or in the of? ce, enhance their personal brand?

electronic devices

In the marine industry, attracting Gen Z has challenges. • 68% have dif? culty sleeping due to stress

Gen Z craves social contact, so living on a boat for two to • 58% report feeling sad often three weeks is not instantly appealing. And they have been • They are “loneliest” generation brought up to be the center of the universe, and accepting au- • Only 45% feel their mental health is very good

More than 60 million members of Gen Z are poised to thority is hard. It is all the more dif? cult on board your vessels enter the workplace in the next few years, and they will because the older captain is the center of the vessel’s universe.

transform our work habits.

Gen Z hiring facts

Gen Z is the ? rst generation to grow up being connected 1. 54% won’t apply if they feel recruitment is dated— to a computer in their hands that can get them informa- tion on anything that they want to know at any time. Their paper-based, long timelines.

2. 82% expect the hiring process to take two values and behaviors are completely different from previous generations because they have been connected to the world weeks-transparent communication is essential.

3. Managing by fear would compel 25% to leave.

and all of its information. And it is not a passive connection. 4. Salary and work-life balance are essential—this

They share their stories, their experiences, and their knowl- includes mental health.

edge with the world and in turn receive other’s shared lives. 5. 59% are willing to tackle a new skill if it leads to

Their story is their brand, and building their brand is www.marinelink.com MN 21|